Vanguard

This article is currently a work in progress. As such, it may contain some editing notes in addition to information. Please be patient, it is being worked on and will be in a finished state before long! Date noted: 2007-07-05

This article is about the enemy group and organization. For the badge, see Vanguard Badge.

History

During the Rikti War, shortly after the initial Rikti attack, The United Nations Security Council, led by Great Britain and France, formed an emergency umbrella organization to help coordinate hero resources in the worldwide war against the invaders. Called the Vanguard, this group was composed of some of the world's best and brightest heroes.

The Rikti had taken their toll and famous super groups like the Freedom Phalanx, the Dawn Patrol, Midnight Squad, Regulators, and Hero Corps were down to only the toughest and most powerful heroes. With its decentralized command structure and international recruiting base, only the Vanguard remained a viable, organized fighting force.

It sprang into action immediately, and began to effect stalemates similar to the one that had been reached in Paragon City. The aliens' advances were halted, but it seemed impossible to take back the territory they had already seized.

The Vanguard initiated a plan to strike back at the Rikti using a plan by Dr. Science. Leaving only skeleton crews to man defenses, the Vanguard was split into two teams. Alpha Team was led by Statesman and Omega Team was led by Hero 1. Alpha Team was much larger and consisted of over 1,000 heroes which launched a frontal assault on the Rikti. It was a costly attack and 800 of the heroes lost their lives. While the Alpha Team attacked the main body of Rikti troops, Omega Team slipped into the main Rikti portal base, through one of the portals and after a huge explosion from the other side, the portal was shut down. Only one hero, the utterly invulnerable Ajax, managed to survive the blast on this side of the portal. It is presumed that the heroes that went through the portal have perished.

Thanks to the heroics of the Vanguard, the Rikti War was over, or at least the first phase of it was. Both sides were nearly shattered in the process. The Vanguard and the other great hero organizations of the world scarcely existed anymore. With the exception of Statesman and a few others, all the world's greatest heroes had died in the war. Trillions upon trillions of dollars of damage had been done to the majority of the world's most populated cities. Paragon City was the worst hit of all. Once a shining beacon of light and prosperity, now much of it lay in ruins. It didn't take long for criminals to start reasserting themselves, and new heroes were needed. It was the beginning of a desperate time that would last for decades.

Today, the Vanguard objectives are the same that they were years ago during the Rikti War. The organization opposes the Rikti wherever they show up, and so, the Rikti War Zone is a primary concern for the group, where they keep a strong presence encircling the downed Rikti starship.

But the Vanguard has a dark side too: Dedicated to stop the Rikti by whatever means necessary, they gladly recruit metahumans without any kind of distinction, not caring about the past of any new recruits. In practice this means that the Vanguard accepts into its ranks heroes as well as villains. This open door policy is causing a lot of tension between the organization and Longbow, whose point of view about the matter is completely different. Despite the fact that both groups fight for the same side and want to see the Rikti defeated, some of the Longbow leaders, such as W. M. Dietrich are especially critical of Vanguard.

And while the Vanguard fights for the planet as a whole and even has known villains in its ranks, villain groups such as the Malta Group or Arachnos are openly hostile to them, making its ally list even thinner.

Fighting an alien race in an open war, distrusted by hero organizations and attacked by villain groups, the Vanguard faces an uncertain future ahead. Only time will tell if the Vanguard and its allies succeed in their goals.

Structural Hierarchy

The Vanguard is split into 5 main divisions: The Helm, The Gauntlet, The Shield, The Herald, and The Sword.

The Herald - The public relations division is ran by a heroine named Incandescent. She's not normally on-site as she's usually too busy abroad working with the UN.

The Shield - The security division headed up by the sisters Levantera and Borea. Sharing the leadership between the two of them, together they handle security and most defensive roles.

The Gauntlet - The main offensive branch is headed up by the hero known as Serpent Drummer. Most troops that are visibly seen taking physical action against the Rikti belong to this branch.

The Helm - The intelligence division, headed up by the mysterious Dark Watcher. This division is dedicated in gathering information to help keep the Rikti contained.

The Sword - The counter-intelligence and special ops division is a secret branch headed up by Gaussian, and handles all kinds of cloak-and-dagger works.

The Lady Grey is the overall commander of the Vanguard and is both powerful and well connected. It's believed that she has been around as long as Statesman and Recluse. She sets the overall strategy of the organization and has Dark Watcher as her second in command.

Benefits

Despite the group's overall situation and its relations with the rest of the world, metahumans who join the Vanguard may reap the benefits of their services:

Vanguard Badges

Just joining the Vanguard will net your char a badge. Continued action against the Rikti during Invasions and Rikti Ship Raids will yield more.

Vanguard Merits

The first thing a metahuman must do after joining the Vanguard is earn its favor. This can be done by earning Vanguard Merits through tasks such as completing missions and defeating Rikti troops in the War Zone, or attacking the Rikti Ship. Once enough Merits have been earned, they can be spent on different perks at special worktables located within the Vanguard base.

Weapon Customization

Along with Vanguard armor costume pieces, some of the Vanguard's weaponry can also be bought to add to characters' costumes. Among these weapons are things like the Vanguard Redding Rifle and Vanguard Claws, as well as other Vanguard weaponry which the Vanguard troops don't even use!

Contacts

Models

Enemy Types

Currently, not every branch of the Vanguard may be found in game. The following Vanguard soldiers can be found, mostly as neutral or ally to heroes and villains.

Vanguard Shield

Minions

Vanguard Soldier

Vanguard Soldier

Vanguard is a group backed by the United Nations, and headed up by Lady Grey. Their soldiers are specifically outfitted in Impervium armor and with high tech as well as magical weaponry to fight the Rikti. Everything they do is centered around containing the Rikti menace on our world.

Flashbang Grenades (Ranged, Targeted Area of Effect, No Damage) Foe -Accuracy, -Defense You've been partially blinded by the Flashbang Grenades. Your Accuracy and Defense are reduced.

Conference Security

Picture MIA

Vanguard is a group backed by the United Nations, and headed up by Lady Grey. Their soldiers are specifically outfitted in Impervium armor and with high tech as well as magical weaponry to fight the Rikti. Everything they do is centered around containing the Rikti menace on our world.

(Note: Conference Security is a group of NPCs found in the mission Help with Conference Security from Serpent Drummer. They actively fight the Rikti; however, if you defeat their enemies around them, they will remain in place and not attack further unless provoked.)

Lieutenants

Vanguard Adept

Vanguard Adept

Vanguard is a group backed by the United Nations, and headed up by Lady Grey. Their soldiers are specifically outfitted in Impervium armor and with high tech as well as magical weaponry to fight the Rikti. Everything they do is centered around containing the Rikti menace on our world.

Powers

Defense Aura (Point Blank Area of Effect, Energy) Foe -Endurance, SleepYour Endurance has been drained and you are in a state of shock.

Life Drain Ranged, Negative, Foe -Accuracy, Self + Hit Points The Sorcerer taps the powers of the netherworld to steal some life from a target foe and reduce his chance to hit. Some of that life is then transferred to the Sorcerer.

Vanguard Sergeant

Vanguard Sergeant

Vanguard is a group backed by the United Nations, and headed up by Lady Grey. Their soldiers are specifically outfitted in Impervium armor and with high tech as well as magical weaponry to fight the Rikti. Everything they do is centered around containing the Rikti menace on our world.

Flashbang Grenades (Ranged, Targeted Area of Effect, No Damage) Foe -Accuracy, -Defense You've been partially blinded by the Flashbang Grenades. Your Accuracy and Defense are reduced.

Willie Pete Round (Ranged) Targeted Area of Effect, Lethal/Smash Damage, Foe Knockback The explosion from this Fragmentation Grenade affects all within the blast and can knock them back.

Bosses

Vanguard Colonel

Vanguard Colonel

Vanguard is a group backed by the United Nations, and headed up by Lady Grey. Their soldiers are specifically outfitted in Impervium armor and with high tech as well as magical weaponry to fight the Rikti. Everything they do is centered around containing the Rikti menace on our world.

Powers

Willie Pete Round (Ranged) Targeted Area of Effect, Lethal/Smash Damage, Foe Knockback The explosion from this Fragmentation Grenade affects all within the blast and can knock them back.

Vanguard Wizard

Vanguard Wizard

Vanguard is a group backed by the United Nations, and headed up by Lady Grey. Their soldiers are specifically outfitted in Impervium armor and with high tech as well as magical weaponry to fight the Rikti. Everything they do is centered around containing the Rikti menace on our world.

Powers

Ball Lightning (Ranged, Energy) Foe -Endurance, Sleep Your Endurance has been drained and you are in a state of shock.

Defense Aura (Point Blank Area of Effect, Energy) Foe -Endurance, SleepYour Endurance has been drained and you are in a state of shock.

Life Drain Ranged, Negative, Foe -Accuracy, Self + Hit Points The Sorcerer taps the powers of the netherworld to steal some life from a target foe and reduce his chance to hit. Some of that life is then transferred to the Sorcerer.

Elite Bosses

Vanguard HVAS

Vanguard is a group backed by the United Nations, and headed up by Lady Grey. Their soldiers are specifically outfitted in Impervium armor and with high tech as well as magical weaponry to fight the Rikti. Everything they do is centered around containing the Rikti menace on our world.

Powers

Air Bomb DoT (Fire), Knockback You have been knocked back by the explosion and are on fire

Vanguard Sword

Minions

Vanguard Ranger

Vanguard Ranger

Vanguard is a group backed by the United Nations, and headed up by Lady Grey. Their soldiers are specifically outfitted in Impervium armor and with high tech as well as magical weaponry to fight the Rikti. Everything they do is centered around containing the Rikti menace in our world.

Slash Melee, Lethal, Damage over Time, Lethal, Foe -Defense A Slash attack deals high damage, and reduces the target's Defense.

Focus (Ranged) High Damage, Energy, Damage over Time, Lethal, Foe -Resists (Lethal, Energy), Knockback The Vanguard soldier can project a burst of focused power. Focus only travels a short distance, but it can also knock down foes.

??? +Perception Vanguard Rangers can see through Stealth amd Invisibility.

Vanguard Ranger

Vanguard Ranger

Vanguard is a group backed by the United Nations, and headed up by Lady Grey. Their soldiers are specifically outfitted in Impervium armor and with high tech as well as magical weaponry to fight the Rikti. Everything they do is centered around containing the Rikti menace on our world.

Powers

Flashbang Grenades (Ranged, Targeted Area of Effect, No Damage) Foe -Accuracy, -Defense You've been partially blinded by the Flashbang Grenades. Your Accuracy and Defense are reduced.

??? +Perception Vanguard Rangers can see through Stealth amd Invisibility.

Lieutenants

Vanguard Eliminator

Picture MIA

Vanguard is a group backed by the United Nations, and headed up by Lady Grey. Their soldiers are specifically outfitted in Impervium armor and with high tech as well as magical weaponry to fight the Rikti. Everything they do is centered around containing the Rikti menace on our world.

Powers

Vanguard Sergeant

Picture MIA

Vanguard is a group backed by the United Nations, and headed up by Lady Grey. Their soldiers are specifically outfitted in Impervium armor and with high tech as well as magical weaponry to fight the Rikti. Everything they do is centered around containing the Rikti menace on our world.

Powers

Vanguard Magician

Picture MIA

Vanguard is a group backed by the United Nations, and headed up by Lady Grey. Their soldiers are specifically outfitted in Impervium armor and with high tech as well as magical weaponry to fight the Rikti. Everything they do is centered around containing the Rikti menace on our world.

Powers

Bosses

Vanguard Sword

(Vanguard Sword Colonel?)

Colonel

Vanguard is a group backed by the United Nations, and headed up by Lady Grey. Their soldiers are specifically outfitted in Impervium armor and with high tech as well as magical weaponry to fight the Rikti. Everything they do is centered around containing the Rikti menace in our world.

Powers

Willie Pete Round (Ranged) Targeted Area of Effect, Lethal/Smash Damage, Foe Knockback The explosion from this Fragmentation Grenade affects all within the blast and can knock them back.

Sword Sorcerer

Picture MIA

Vanguard is a group backed by the United Nations, and headed up by Lady Grey. Their soldiers are specifically outfitted in Impervium armor and with high tech as well as magical weaponry to fight the Rikti. Everything they do is centered around containing the Rikti menace on our world.

Ball Lightning (Ranged, Energy) Foe -Endurance, Sleep Your Endurance has been drained and you are in a state of shock.

Life Drain Ranged, Negative, Foe -Accuracy, Self + Hit Points The Sorcerer taps the powers of the netherworld to steal some life from a target foe and reduce his chance to hit. Some of that life is then transferred to the Sorcerer.

Defense Aura (Point Blank Area of Effect, Energy) Foe -Endurance, SleepYour Endurance has been drained and you are in a state of shock.

??? +Perception Sword Sorcerers can see through Stealth amd Invisibility.

Vanguard Sorcerer

Vanguard Sorcerer

Vanguard is a group backed by the United Nations, and headed up by Lady Grey. Their soldiers are specifically outfitted in Impervium armor and with high tech as well as magical weaponry to fight the Rikti. Everything they do is centered around containing the Rikti menace on our world.

Powers

Elite Bosses

Vanguard HVAS

Vanguard is a group backed by the United Nations, and headed up by Lady Grey. Their soldiers are specifically outfitted in Impervium armor and with high tech as well as magical weaponry to fight the Rikti. Everything they do is centered around containing the Rikti menace on our world.

Signature Heroes

Faultline

After he rediscovered his heroic roots, young Jim Temblor has been doing all he can to redeem the name of his father: Faultline. Following several intense battles with the Rikti, Faultline and his girlfriend Fusionette have joined the Vanguard to help fight the alien invaders.

Powers:

Granite Armor Self, +Resistance(All but Psionics), +Defense(All but Psionics), -Speed, -Recharge, -Damage When you activate this power, you are transformed into a massive bulk of unyielding Granite. Your incredible mass makes you almost completely invulnerable and resistant to most effects. However, you also become quite heavy, cannot fly, your attack and movement speed are Slowed and you do less damage. Granite Armor also grants you high resistance to Defense DeBuffs.Cannot be active at the same time as other Armors in this set, Fly powers, Sprint, Super Speed, or Jump powers.

Earth's Embrace Self, +Resistance(All but Psionics), +Defense(All but Psionics), -Speed, -Recharge, -Damage You are so connected to the Earth, you can draw upon its power to add to your own health. Activating this power increases your maximum Hit Points, and grants you resistance to Toxic Damage.

Mud Pots Toggle: PBAoE, Minor DoT (Fire), Foe Immobilize, -Speed While this power is active, you draw upon the geothermal power of the Earth to create a bubbling pool of hot mud around yourself. All foes in melee range will become snared and entrapped in the mud, Immobilizing some and slowing others. The boiling heat from Mud Pots also deals some damage over time to the snared foes.

Quicksand Ranged, Location Area of Effect, Foe -Speed, -Jump, -Fly, -Defense You can cause the ground to liquefy like Quicksand at a targeted location. Any foes that pass through the Quicksand will become snared, their movement will be dramatically Slowed, and their Defense reduced. Foes trapped in the Quicksand cannot jump or Fly.

Stone Prison Ranged, Minor Damage (Smashing), Foe Immobilize, -Fly, -Defense Immobilizes a single target within an earthy formation and deals some Smashing damage over time. Some more resilient foes may require multiple attacks to Immobilize. Stone Prison can also reduce a target's Defense.

Tremor PBAoE, Moderate DMG (Smash), Knockback You can cause a localized earthquake immediately around you. This will deal moderate damage to every foe in melee range, while knocking them back.

Seismic Smash Melee, Extreme Damage(Smashing), Foe HoldThis massive attack hits with all the force of the Earth itself. It deals tremendous amounts of damage, and may Hold the target if they are not defeated outright.

Resistance

Fusionette

Fusionette is one of the Nuclear 90; 90 children from around the world all born in one year with an unusual mutation that gives them natural magnetic nuclear fusion reactors for hearts, and the ability to channel energy from their internal reactor for a variety of super powers. Like many of the Nuclear 90, Fusionette has decided to use her powers for the betterment of mankind as a hero. She has recently joined the Vanguard along with her boyfriend Faultline in order to help fight the Rikti.

Power Burst Close, High Damage (Energy/Smash), Foe: Knockback A short range, but devastating attack. Power Burst unleashes a massive amount of energy dealing very high damage at short distances. The impact from this burst often knocks back most foes.

Power Thrust Close, low Damage (Energy/Smash), Foe: Knockback A focused attack that violently shoves the target and sends him flying. Deals minimal damage, but can be very effective.

Fly Toggle:

Resistance

Lady Grey

Ever composed, ever mysterious, the powerful and otherworldly Lady Grey is rumored to be older than Statesman, and one of the most powerful meta-humans on the planet. She was instrumental in the founding of Vanguard, and runs the organization expertly. She takes a great interest in Vanguard's day-to-day operations, and knows all of her troops by name.

Powers:

Gloom Ranged, Moderate Damage over Time(Negative), Foe: -Accuracy Gloom slowly drains a target of life, while reducing his accuracy. Slower than dark blast, but deals more damage over time.

Twilight Grasp Ranged, Foe -Accuracy -Damage, Team Heal You channel Negative Energy from the Netherworld through yourself to a targeted foe. Twilight Grasp drains the power from that target and slowly transfers it to you and all nearby allies. The targeted foe's Accuracy and damage are reduced, while you and your nearby allies are healed.

Night Fall Ranged(Cone), Moderate Damage over Time(Negative), Foe: -Accuracy Unleashes a cone shaped burst of particles from the netherworld. All targets within the modest range of this power take negative energy damage and have reduced accuracy.

Fearsome Stare Ranged(Cone), Foe Fear, -Accuracy Instills tremendous Fear within a cone area in front of you, causing all affected targets to tremble in Terror uncontrollably.

Petrifying Gaze Ranged Hold Petrifies a single targeted foe with a terrifying gaze. The victim is Held and defenseless.

Life Drain Ranged, Minor Damage (Negative), Self: Heal, Foe: -AccuracyYou can tap the power of the netherworld to steal some life from a target foe and reduce his accuracy. Some of that stolen life is transferred to you in the form of hit points.

Dark Servant Summon Dark Servant: Ranged Debuff Special Summons a Dark Servant to your aid. The Dark Servant possesses an assortment of dark powers to weaken your foes. The summoned entity is not a willing servant, and it is only your power that binds it in this realm. The Dark Servant can be buffed and healed.

Blackstar Point Blank Area of Effect, Extreme Damage(Negative), Self: -Recovery, Foe: -Accuracy You can unleash a devastating blast of negative energy around yourself, dealing massive damage and severely reducing affected foes' accuracy. This power leaves you drained of endurance and unable to recover endurance for a while.

Resistance

unconfirmed

Darkest Night Toggle: Ranged Targeted area of effect, Foe -damage, Foe -accuracyWhile active, you channel Negative Energy onto a targeted foe. Darkest Night decreases the damage potential and Accuracy of the target, and all foes nearby, as long as you keep the power active.

Tenebrous Tentacles Ranged(Cone), Minor Damage over Time(Negative), Foe: Immobilize, -Accuracy You can create a cone shaped rift to the netherworld that allows its native creatures to slip their oily tentacles into our reality. These creatures will snare all foes within range, immobilizing them while the tentacles drain their life and reduce their accuracy.

Historical

This section contains information that no longer applies to the current version of City of Heroes Freedom. It is provided for historical purposes.

Except for the gun models, Vanguard unlockable weapons were formerly called Talsorian weapons. This was changed on November 12, 2009.